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Do changes in the SG&A ratio provide different information about changes in future earnings, analyst forecast revisions, and stock returns under different circumstances?

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  • Johnson, E. Scott

Abstract

In fundamental analysis, increases (decreases) in the ratio of selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs to sales (SG&A ratio) are perceived as negative (positive) signals regarding future firm performance. However, this interpretation focuses on the overall change in the SG&A ratio and ignores the underlying changes in the components of the ratio (sales and SG&A costs). Although prior research examines the changes in the SG&A ratio under some different circumstances, there is no study that examines all the ways that managers adjust costs in reaction to changes in sales. Therefore, I create six subsamples representing all possible combinations of changes in sales, SG&A costs, and the SG&A ratio and test whether changes in the SG&A ratio are informative about future earnings, analyst forecast revisions, and stock returns under these different circumstances. I find that changes in the SG&A ratio in four of my six subsamples provide information about changes in future earnings. I also find that analysts do not impound all of the information contained in the signals into their forecast revisions and in some cases investors appear to understand this fact.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnson, E. Scott, 2016. "Do changes in the SG&A ratio provide different information about changes in future earnings, analyst forecast revisions, and stock returns under different circumstances?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 90-98.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:34:y:2016:i:c:p:90-98
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2016.07.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eiler, Lisa A. & Filzen, Joshua J. & Jackson, Mark & Tama-Sweet, Isho, 2021. "Real earnings management and the properties of analysts' forecasts," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    2. Lin, Fengyi & Lin, Sheng-Wei & Fang, Wen-Chang, 2020. "How CEO narcissism affects earnings management behaviors," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

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